Slub-catching device



July 29, 1958 F. F. s'rANGE l-:TAL 2,844,361

l A sLUB-CATCHING DEVICE Filed Dec. 6. 1954 4 sheets-sheet 1 a@ @,@wwwwf ATTORNEYS n July 29, 1958 F. F. sTANGE E-rAL 2,844,861

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July 29, 1958 F. F. sTANGE ETAL .i 2,844,861

sLuB-CATCHING DEVICE .Filed Dec'. e, 1954 4 'sheets-sheet 4 ATTORNEYS United States Patent sLU-CATCHING DEVICE Ferdinand F. stnnge, Westfield, and 'calvin P. Bullard, East Longmeadow, Mass., assignors to Foster Machine Cnnpany, Westfield, Mass., a corporation of Massac usetts Application December 6, 1954, Serial No. 473,098

5 Claims. (Cl. 2864) The invention relates to a novel and improved yarn tension and slub-catching device particularly adapted for use with automatic winding machines of the type in which the leading end of a yarn to be fed from a reserve bobbin is joined, as by knotting, to the trailing end of a yarn on the package to be wound.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a novel and improved self-threading yarn tension which positions the yarn in the tension device without subjecting the yarn to any excessive strain during the operation or as the yarn is restarted. A further object of the invention is the provision of a yarn tension device which is adapted to receive an end of a reserve bobbin, and one that is threaded by the mere running of the yarn and by a change in position of the reserve end that has been united with the end of the yarn already wound on a package. Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved yarn tension device which may be mounted directly above a bobbin holder to hold an active and a reserve bobbin, which will pass the knot by which the two yarn ends are united, and which will, independently of the normal tension device, apply a sutil- `cient strain on the knot to test the knot and cause it to come untied if it is defective in any way.

The invention has for its further object the provision of a tension and slub-catching device which is dependable, easily adjusted and which permits the easy withdrawal of any slubs caught in the device.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown as illustratively applied to an automatic Winder of the general construction referred to and as mounted on the upper portion of a rotatable bobbin holder serving to move a reserve bobbin from its reserve position to its active position and to dolf the exhausted bobbin after the leading end of the yarn on the reserve bobbin has been united with the trailing end of the yarn being wound on the package. Such a bobbin holder for automatic winding machines is shown and claimed in the prior Patent No. 2,632,612, issued March 24, 1953. A similar winding machine having substantially the same knotting, cutting, and bobbin feeding arrangement is disclosed in the copending application of Ferdinand F. Stange Serial No. 179,962, filed August 17, 1950 and which issued as Patent No. 2,680,572 on June 8, 1954.

The invention comprises a yarn tension and slub-catching mechanism for applying tension or drag to the running yarn as it is fed from the supply bobbin to the package being wound and for intercepting any slubs in the yarn before they reach the package to prevent their being wound thereon. To this end the yarn from the supply bobbin is passed through a pot eye, thence over a washer mounted on a movable pin. Tension or drag is applied to the thread by the provision on the pin of an upper cup or washer having a weight mounted thereon for full upward movement. The magnitude of the, weight is carefully selected so that when it rests upon the yarn the proper amount of drag is applied to the yarn. After the lCe yarn is passed past the pin and between the washer and cup it is then guided by a pair of anvil members past a pair of slub-catching blades. Each slub-catching blade is pivotally mounted adjacent an anvil member so as to provide a very small clearance between the blade and the anvil member through which the yarn may pass. One blade is provided with a straight edge while the other blade is provided with a serrated edge. Adjustable limiting means are provided by which the clearance ybetween the anvil members and the slub-catching blades may be controlled. Thereafter the yarn passes over a slub-break trip wire and is wound onto the yarn package.

The slub-catching bladesare pivoted so as to be movable away from the anvil members in a yarn-releasing direction upon a break in the yarn. The pivoting of the blades is initiated by a lever which in turn, is actuated by a knock-off device set in motion by the `trip wire upon the breakage of the yarn. A suitable releasing mechanism is also provided for the tension apparatus and comprises lever means for raising the tension pin and upper weight mounted thereon upon rotation of the slub-catching blades away from the anvil members.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain ythe principles of the invention.V

Of the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation showing a preferred embodiment of the invention and its location with respect to the frame and knock-olf mechanism of the winding machine;

Figure 2 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 1 showing only the threading, tensioning and Slob-catching apparatus;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the normal running position of the tensioning and slub-catching mechanism;

Figure 5 is a trasverse section taken along the line 5--5 in Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a detail showing the manner of actuation between the tensioning trip mechanism and the blade pivoting mechanism;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section similar to that of Figure 4 showing the positions of the tensioning and slub-catching mechanisms after a slub-break; and

Figure 8 is a plane section taken along the line 8--8 in Figure 4.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings which show a preferred and illustrative form of the invention, the frame 10 of the winding machine provides a rigid support for the threading, tensioning and slub-catching apparatus 12 which is secured to the crossbar 14 mounted on the arms 16 attached to the frame. A' rod 18 depends from the base frame 20 of the tensioning and Slob-catching apparatus 12 and is provided witha flange 19 having a pair of pins 22 adapted to enter and support the bobbin cores for the bobbins to be wound onto the package. The flange 19 is rotatable on the rod 18 to enable the bobbin to swing radially about the rod from the initial starting position A to the normal or active running position under the poteye 24. (See Figure 2.)

Means are provided for temporarily positioning the found or trailing end of the package yarn and the leading end of the reserve yarn on the bobbin in the initial starting position A where they may be engaged by the uniting mechanism. These means are preferably supported on an extension 26 of the base frame 20 and, comprise a pair of jaws 28-29 adapted to receive the leading end of the reserve yarn on the bobbin. The upper jaw 28 is xedly secured to an upwardly turned portion 25 of the extension 26 by means of a pair of machine screws 27 while the lower jaw 29 is pivotally mounted on a stud 23 and normally pressed into contact with the jaw 28 by means of a spring 21 mounted between the jaws on an adjusting screw 33. Release of the yarn end is effected at the desired time by means of a cam bar carried by a travelling tender (not shown) striking the lower portion of the jaw 29 as the tender moves past the jaw. A suction aspirator is provided on the tender which finds the end of the yarn on the winding package and draws it down until the forward edges 3S of the guides 30, 31 are engaged. The ends of the yarn are now in proper position to allow the knotter to tie the reserve end to the package end. A pair of rollers 32 mounted on a projection 34 serve to actuate the knotting mechanism as it passes longitudinally along the extension in a path corresponding to the arrow C. Means are also provided for actuating the knotting mechanism to cut the free end of the yarn after the knotting operation has been completed. On the upper side of extension 26 are plates 36 having actuating members 38 which engage and actuate supplementary shears and knotted end ejector carried on the knotter. Should the automatic yarn cutting means on the knotter fail to cut the yarn ends cleanly the supplementary shears and knotted end ejector cut the ends and pushes the knot out of the knotter thereby preventing the yarn from becoming entangled and drawn from one spindle to another.

Once the knot has been tied, the excess yarn cut, and the knotter Withdrawn, the thread is ready to be wound onto the package from the. reserve bobbin. Because the knot in the yarn is too large to safely pass through the tensioning and slub-catching devices the portion of the yarn containing the knot must be bypassed around these devices during the Winding operation. To this end the base frame 20 is provided with a slot 52 having a guide spur 40 mounted on one edge thereof. The yarn from the reserve bobbin has been passed over the base plate 44a, under the spur 40 and under the pivoted bar 44 mounted on the outer end 46 thereof while the yarn from the package has been passed over the arm 48 of the spur guide and over the body thereof. The bar 44 is attened on the bottom and slightly spaced from the base plate 44a so as to provide slight tension on the yarn end from the reserve bobbin and prevent slack yarn between the guides 30, 31. 'Bar 44 is pivotedly mountedon the spur 40 to permit the bobbin yarn to be threaded through the poteye and yarn tension when starting an empty core in the Winding machine. The base plate 44a is pivoted at 44b so that at the start of a package the yarn may be threaded by hand through the space between the base plate and the extension 26, upwardly past bar 42 and into the tension and slub-catching apparatus. A pair of guide bars 42-43 are mounted in close juxtaposition on the base frame 20. One guide bar 42 extends forwardly from the rear of the base frame to overlie the slot 52 and is rigidly fastened at both ends. The other guide bar 43 is pivotally and resiliently mounted and extends alongside of and contacts the guide bar 42 at a point adjacent the arm 48 on the guide spur 40.

As the reserve bobbin is rotated from the initial position A to the running position B under the poteye 24 and the Winding package rotated the knot passes over the body 50 of the spur guide 40, over the arm`48 then along the curved end 58 of the guide bar 43 and into the passageway 54 formed between the guide bars 42-43. As the knot passes through the passageway 54 a slight drag placed upon it by the resistance of the resilient guide bar whereby the knot is tested and tightened. At the same time the reserve bobbin moves along au arc toward the running position and the yarn from the bobbin passes from the space 56 between the pivoted bar 44, the base plate 44a, and the spur guide 40 into the slot 52. As the bobbin moves toward the active running position, and as the yarn continues to be wound on the package the yarn travels further to the left of the slot 52 aud rearwardly of the passageway between the guide bars 42-43. Finally it reaches the poteye 24 and slides under the rearward end of guide bar 42, assuming the final position shown in Figure 2. In this position the yarn passes through the tensioning and slub-catching devices 60 and 62 respectively.

The tensioning device 60 comprises a washer 64 secured on the base frame 20. A movable pin 66 passes through an opening 68 in the center of the washer and is provided with a shoulder 70 upon which a cup 72 is mounted. By means of a flange 78 on the pin 66 the position of the shoulder 70 is regulated to allow the cup 72 to rest upon the yarn passing over the washer 64. A proper amount of tension is placed on the yarn by adding a piece of felt 76 and the proper weight 74 onto the cup 72.

From the tensioning device the yarn passes to the slubcatching device where it is guided by the undersides 80 of the guide members, or anvils 82 resiliently secured to the slub-catcher frame 84. Slub-intercepting means are provided and, as embodied, comprise a pair of blades 86-87 secured to hinges 91-92 mounted on a pivotable wire 89. The blade 87 has a straight edge 93 to remove certain slubs from the yarn while the blade 86 has a comb or serrated edge 94 to remove particularly soft slubs. An adjusting screw 96 is provided on the frame 20 by which the blades 86-87 may be selectively positioned with respect to the anvils 82.

The slub-catcher frame 84 is provided at one side with a yoke 98 in which is journalled one end of the pivotable wire 89. A block 100 is xedly mounted on the wire 89 in the yoke 98 and securely connected to the lever arm 102. A lug 104 on the block 100 engages the bent portion 106 of a pivotable wire 108 mounted in the slub-catcher frame 84 parallel to the pivotable wire 89. Fixedly positioned on the wire 108 is a trip 110 for the pin 66 of the tension device. The trip is provided with a cam 112 which, upon rotation, engages the lower end 114 of the movable pin 66 thereby raising the pin 66 and the cup 72. Both of the pivotablevwires 89-108 are biased toward the running position by the springs 116 acting on the discs 118.

After the yarn passes through the slub-catching device it passes over a trip wire 120 and depresses it to a non-actuating position. The trip wire 120 is connected by suitable stop mechanism (not shown) to a pivoted knock-oit lever 121 adjacent the lever arm 102. If the yarn should break for any reason the trip wire 120 rises to its upper position where it causes the knock-oi lever 121 to move upwardly and engage the lever arm 102. Movement of the lever arm rotates the block 100 and the pivotable wires 89-108 thereby opening the blades 86 87 in the slub-catcher and raising the cup 72 away from the washer 64 in the tensioning device to permit the easy withdrawal of the yarn from the tensioning and slubcatchng devices and also to permit the proper cleaning of the tensioning and slab-catching devices by an air blast carried on the tender.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages. What is claimed is:

1. A slub-catchcr for winding machines comprising a guide member for yarn passing through the winding machine to a package, at least one slub-catching blade held in slub-intercepting relation to the guide member and openly movable away from the guide member, means coupled to the blade for effecting opening movement of the blade away from the guide member, actuating apparatus set in motion by a break in the yarn for engaging the means on the blade and moving said means in the blade-opening direction, movable tensioning members for placing the yarn under tension, and a pivoted lever adapted to move one tension member away from the other, said lever being actuated by the actuating member for the slub-catching blade to move the tension member at the same time the slub-catching blade is moved away from the guide member.

2. A slub-catcher for winding machines comprising guide members for yarn passing through the winding machine to a package, tensioning means for placing the yarn under tension, including a pair of members disposed on opposite sides of the yarn one of said members being movable with respect to the other, slub-catching means including at least one blade in slub-intercepting relation to the guide members and mounted on a pivot shaft so as to be movable away from the guide members, a lever for moving one of the tension members away from the other, said lever being mounted ou a pivot shaft, and means for pivoting said pivot shafts whenever the yarn is broken.

l slub catcher to a package, slub catching blades positioned to intercept any slub on the yarn, said blades being movable toward and away from each other, detection means normally engaged by the yarn passing through the slub catcher and means actuated by the yarn detection means for moving said blades to open position whenever the yarn breaks.

5. A slub catcher as set forth in claim 4 in which there are provided means for tensioning the yarn adjacent the slub catcher, means for releasing the yarn tension means and common means for resetting the slub catching blades and the yarn tensioning means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,630,426 Hasbrouck May 3l, 1927 1,784,141 Hastings Dec. 9, 1930 1,785,817 Marcroft et al, Dec. ,23, 1930 

